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Gasly’s Monaco Third: Why the F1 Appeal Drags On
123Helmets Editorial Team
Nearly three months after the Monaco Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly still does not know whether he will keep the third-place trophy handed to him after his pitlane speeding penalty was overturned, with the FIA’s International Court of Appeal now weighing a case that both McLaren and Red Bull say goes far beyond one podium.
Key Takeaways
Gasly’s pitlane speeding penalty was overturned days after the Monaco Grand Prix, restoring him to third place ahead of Isack Hadjar.
McLaren and Red Bull have appealed that reversal to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal, with a hearing held last Wednesday.
A verdict, or at least a written explanation, is not expected for another two to three weeks, standard timing for an ICA case.
Both Oscar Piastri and Isack Hadjar lost points as a result of the reversal, and their teams argue the case sets a wider precedent for how penalties are applied.
What happened at Monaco
Pierre Gasly’s third-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix was thrown into question within days of the chequered flag. He was initially handed a time penalty for speeding in the pitlane, a call that dropped him behind Isack Hadjar in the final classification. That penalty was then overturned in the week following the race, restoring Gasly to third and moving Hadjar back down the order. Oscar Piastri’s championship points were also affected by the reshuffle, since the reversal changed the finishing order behind him as well. The trophy for third place has since been given to Gasly, but the paperwork behind that result is still open almost three months later.
For a team built around Pierre Gasly, the podium in Monaco is one of the season’s genuine highlight moments — the kind of result that collectors and fans want commemorated. Anyone building out a Pierre Gasly display collection will know this is the sort of race weekend worth marking with a full-size 1:1 helmet piece, regardless of how the appeal eventually lands.
Why McLaren and Red Bull appealed
McLaren and Red Bull took the Monaco penalty reversal to the FIA’s International Court of Appeal because both teams believe the decision affected more than one race result. Team principal Andrea Stella described a “double intent” behind McLaren’s appeal, saying the process that unfolded after the Monaco Grand Prix needs to be reviewed for fairness to all competitors. Speaking at Zandvoort, Stella said the removal of the penalty “introduces some significant elements of concern” and indicated the case has technical dimensions that go beyond the points lost by Oscar Piastri and Isack Hadjar. Both teams have framed the episode as a question of precedent: if a pitlane speeding penalty can be overturned after the fact, teams want clarity on what standard will apply the next time a similar situation arises.
Inside the ICA hearing
The International Court of Appeal hearing into the Gasly case took place last Wednesday and ran for the entire day, which is unusual for this type of appeal. All parties — Gasly’s team, McLaren, Red Bull and the FIA — presented arguments before the panel, and the length of the session reflects how contested the underlying legal questions are. Sources close to the case have indicated that a verdict, or at minimum a written explanation of the panel’s reasoning, should not be expected immediately. Two to three weeks is described as standard procedure for an ICA case of this complexity, meaning Gasly, Hadjar and Piastri are all likely to spend further weeks waiting on a final classification for a race held back in the spring of the 2026 season.
What is actually at stake
The stakes in this case extend past the third-place trophy Gasly currently holds. Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri both lost positions, and therefore championship points, once the pitlane speeding penalty was withdrawn, which is why their teams are pursuing the appeal rather than accepting the amended result. McLaren has gone further, tying the case to what Stella called “principles of fairness” for the sport as a whole, arguing that how the FIA handles penalty reversals after a race sets expectations for every future stewarding decision. If the ICA sides with Gasly, the Monaco result stands as it is now — third for Gasly, points adjusted accordingly for Piastri and Hadjar. If the panel sides with McLaren and Red Bull, the original penalty could be reinstated, which would flip the trophy and the points back the other way nearly three months after the race itself.
A podium moment worth marking regardless
Whatever the ICA eventually rules, the image of Pierre Gasly on the Monaco podium is already part of the 2026 season’s record. Monaco remains the one weekend on the calendar where podium visuals carry extra weight — the harbour backdrop, the trophy presentation, the helmet liveries photographed up close on the podium steps. That is true whether the third place officially stays with Gasly or eventually reverts to Isack Hadjar once the panel rules. For collectors following the story, the Monaco weekend is a natural point to add a full-size 1:1 display helmet from the podium finishers to a collection, independent of how the appeal paperwork resolves itself.
“We think that the process that happened after the race in Monaco is a process that needs to be reviewed from a fairness point of view for all competitors. The fact that the penalty was removed introduces some significant elements of concern.”
— Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal
FAQ
Q: Why is Pierre Gasly’s Monaco result still unresolved?
Because McLaren and Red Bull appealed the decision to overturn his pitlane speeding penalty, and the FIA’s International Court of Appeal has not yet issued a verdict following last Wednesday’s hearing.
Q: Who does Gasly’s penalty reversal affect in the standings?
Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri, since both lost positions and championship points once Gasly’s penalty was overturned and he was restored to third place.
Q: When will the ICA verdict be announced?
No fixed date has been confirmed, but a decision or written explanation is expected within two to three weeks of last Wednesday’s hearing, which is standard timing for an ICA case.
Q: Why did McLaren and Red Bull escalate the case to the ICA?
Because both teams argue the reversal raises broader fairness concerns for how penalties are applied, not just the points lost by their drivers at Monaco.
Q: Does Gasly currently hold the Monaco third-place trophy?
Yes, Gasly has been handed the trophy for third place, but he does not yet know whether he will keep it pending the ICA’s final ruling.
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